Zambia is supplying First Quantum Minerals with a 100 megawatt solar project

President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia inaugurated the nation’s largest grid-connected solar power plant on Monday. The facility, constructed by PowerChina, will provide electricity to First Quantum Minerals (FM.TO), a copper miner.

The Chisamba 100 megawatt project is anticipated to lessen the Southern African nation’s need on electricity imports from Mozambique and South Africa, its neighbors.

The capacity that First Quantum Minerals would have otherwise utilized would be made available to Zambian consumers.

Zambia relies heavily on hydropower to generate its electricity, and due to a severe drought, low water levels have compelled state company Zesco to limit electricity.

The necessity to diversify the electricity mix immediately was brought to light by the drought, Hichilema stated at a launch event.

An additional 100 MW of capacity is planned to be added at the Chisamba complex, while no timeline has been established for the expansion.